Portable concrete shaping device



Sept. 8, 1959 w. c. MALSBURY ETAL PORTABLE CONCRETE SHAPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1956 a Livia-i 5 William 6. Ma/sbury Ken/7e M C. Ma/sbury William B. Ma/sbury INVENTORS Sept. 8, 1959 w. c. MALSBURY ET AL 2,902,910

PORTABLE CONCRETE SHAPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1956 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 William 6. Ma/sb ury Kenneth C. Ma/sbury William B. Ma/sbur NV O Uted tes

PORTABLE CONCRETE SHAPING DEVICE William C. Malsbury, Kenneth C. Malshury, and William B. Malsbury, Crystal Springs, Miss.

This invention relates to a portable concrete beam form for use in constructing beams or the like in ditches and more particularly to a device adapted to work behind a ditching machine for conveniently leveling the surface of a concrete beam.

In the construction of roadways and airport runways, it is often necessary to reinforce such runways and roadways by means of concrete beams or girders. Inasmuch as the roadways and runways are poured directly on the ground, it is necessary that the beams be poured in trenches so that the upper surface of each beam be level with the surface of the ground. In view of this, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a shaping device which may be pulled along a ditch and which is provided with a hopper into which concrete is directed as it is pulled along the ditch so that the shaping device is used in the placement of the concrete within the ditch and at the same time as the shaping device is drawn along the'ditch during the ditch filling operation, the shaping device serves to shape the upper portion of the beam and to level. the beam flushwith the surrounding ground. v

The construction of this invention features runners which are adapted to ride along the edges of a ditch or trench and which includes a rear cross member adapted to level the top surface of concretevdeposed within the confines of the portable concrete shaping device as the portable shaping device is pulled along the trench.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of self-supporting reinforcement for. use in constructing concrete beams and the like which selfsupporting reinforcementcan be positioned in a ditch or a trench ahead of the portable concrete shaping device as the form shaping device is being pulled along.

6 Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a portable concrete shaping device and self-supporting reinforcement each of which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to use. I

Thes'e together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by these means for constructing concrete beams, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the portable concrete shaping device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken along the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the invention;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the portable concrete shaping device shown in use with the self-supporting steel in place in a trench; -"Figure -5 is a perspective view of the self-supporting reinforcement; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 6-6 in Figure 5.

With continuing reference to the accompanying draw- Patented Sept. 8, 1959 ice ings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the portable concrete shaping device comprising one of the important elements of the present invention. This portable concrete shaping device includes a pair of runners 12 and 14 which are spaced from each other and held in their assembled relationship by cross members 16 and 18. The front cross member is generally block-like in configuration and has journaled in the top and bottom .portions 20 and 22, respectively, vertically extending shafts 24 and 26 held in place by cotter keys 28 and 30 or the like and which have bent portions 32 and 34, see Figs. 1 and 2, which terminate in stub shafts 36 and 38 on which front wheels 40 and 42 are rotatably mounted. Interconnecting the front and rear cross members are side plates 44 and 46 which form vertical extensions of the sides 50 and 52 of the runners 12 and 14 and in conjunction with the vertically extending sides 50 and 52 form a central hopper 54 for the cementitious material from which a beam to be poured is to be constructed.

The rear cross member 18 includes a vertically extending side piece 60 as well as a generally horizontally extending lower cross piece 62. The lower cross piece 62 serves as a trowel in a manner which will be hereinafter disclosed. The lower cross piece 62 has side plates 64 and 66 which have axle 68 journaled therein on which rear wheels 74 and 76 are rotatably mounted. The rear wheels 74 and 76 are smaller in size than the front wheels 40 and 42and .their axis of rotation vertically upwardly offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheels 40 and 42.

The runners 12 and 14 diverge rearwardly to a slight extent and are provided with the front ends of the runners 12 and 14 closer together than the rear ends thereof and have the substantially horizontal portions 80 and 82 upwardly flared. asat 84 and 86. This permits an outward flow of the excess concrete in the ditch prior to the troweling action of the rear cross member 50 thereon. A bridle 88 is secured to the upwardly flared ends.

In use, the portable concrete shaping device 10 is adapted to be positioned in a trench with the runners 12 and 14 lying adjacent to the verticaledges of the trench as at 90 and 92. Because the runners 12 and 14 diverge rearwardly, only the rearward edges of the form engage the sides of the trench at 90 and 92. Further, since the wheels 40 and 42 are larger than the wheels 74 and 76, only the rear portions of the horizontal portions 80 and 82 of the runners 12 and 14 will engage the surface of the earth adjacent the trench. The trench is filled by pouring concrete into the hopper 54 so that the concrete is directed into the trench., As the concrete is poured into the hopper 54, the concrete beam shaping device 10 is pulled along the ditch with an excess amount of concrete remaining therein at all times. As a result, the vertically extending sides 50 and 52 of the runners 12 and 14 shape the upper side portions of the concrete beam being poured. Also, as the concreteshaping device 10 rnoves, the horizontal portion ofthe rear cross member 60 willserve as a trowel to level off the upper surface of the. concrete beam to substantially that of the surroundingground. H

. Prior to the pouring of theconcrete in the hopper 54, reinforcing means are disposed in the trench. The I6? inforcing means utilized in the present invention includes the substantially V-shaped in cross section self-supporting reinforcing members which include a .wire mesh member 102 of V-shapein cross-section and of any suitable, preferablystrong and durable mesh, The mesh is inverted so that the apex 104 thereof is in the upper position and has suspended therefrom an elongated reinforcing rod 106. The reinforcing rod 106 may be 3 held in place by suitable tie wires as at 108. Another pair of reinforcing rods 110 and 112 are also tied as by tie wires 116 and 118 to the wire mesh.

Because the wire mesh is of suflicient strength, the

. e reinforcement is self supporting and needs ,no chairs.

F h t cent a r i fo n .m mb i se re y held in placqcentrally disposed .in ,the trench .with .the reinforcing members 110 I and v,112 adjacent the, corners of the trench.

The reinforcing members .100 are adapted to bearrangedin longitudinally alignedrelationship with the, ends thereof overlapped.

When the portable concrete=shaping device 10 is used for its designed purpose, the front wheels .,40 .and 42 beingnot only larger than the wheels 74,,and 76but also havinga lower axis of rotation will.enga'ge the. ground to reduce friction while the rear portion ofthe horizontal plates 8 0 andflzofthe runners will engage the ground holding the rear wheels 74 ,and 76 spaced above the ground. However, when the device is not in use yet must-be transported from one locationto another, the portable concrete shapingdevice maybe overturned and using both front and back wheels, the portable concrete shaping device may be easily towed behind any suitable vehicle.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ,of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is -as-follo,ws:

l. A portable concrete shaping device ,comprising a pair of spaced runners having substantially vertical leg portions for straddling and shaping a mass of concrete within a ditch, means rigidly interconnecting said runners, a pair of front wheels rotatably mounted adjacent the forward ends ;of said runners and being located with respect thereto so as to extend below the upper edges of said .vertical legportions, said front wheels beingdisposed outwardly of said vertical leg portions, at least the rear portions of said runnersv being provided with laterally outwardly substantially horizontal leg portions for overlying and riding upon the ground adjacent the parallel edgesof a ditch, and a pair of rear Wheels :journalled adjacent the rear of said runners and being located with respect thereto so that rear edges ,of said horizontal leg portions .lie below a plane tangential .to the lower portions of all of said wheels so that the rearward extremities of said horizontal leg portions will ride-upon the ground, said front and rear wheels being .of such a diameter as to project above any portion of the device such that the device may be inverted for transporting support solely ,on said wheels, said means rigidly interconnecting said runners being disposed adjacent the rearward ,ends ,of said runners and including a horizontal plate extending between .said runners substantially at the upper edges of said vertical leg-portions for effecting a troweling action upon the mass of concrete straddled by said vertical leg portions.

2. A portable concrete shaping device comprising a pair of spaced runners having substantially vertical leg portions for straddling and shaping a mass of concrete within a ditch and substantially horizontal laterally outwardly projecting leg portions originating along the upper edges of said vertical leg portions, means rigidly interconnecting said runners including a rear cross member overlying and secured rigidly to said horizontal leg portions adjacent the rearward extremities of said runners and having a substantially horizontally disposed flat plate portion extending between said runners, a pair of front wheels rotatably mounted adjacent the forward ends of said runners and being located with respect there- ,4 to so as to extend below the upper edges of said vertical leg portions, said front wheels being disposed outwardly of said vertical leg portions, a pair of rear wheels journaled adjacent the rear of said runners, and being located with respect thereto so that rear edges of said horizontal leg portions lie below a plane tangential to the lower portions of all of said wheels so that the rearward extremities of said horizontal leg portions will ride upon the ground with said horizontal plate portion of the rear cross member effecting a troweling action upon the mass of concrete straddled by the device, said front and rear wheels being of such a diameter as to project above any portion of the device such that the device may be inverted for transporting support solely on said wheels.

3. A portable concrete shaping device Comprising a pair of spaced runners having substantially vertical leg portions for straddling and shaping a mass of concrete within a ditch, transverse frame members rigidly interconnecting said runners, said transverse frame members having opposed vertical faces, side plates-extending upwardly from said runners and forming vertical extensions of said vertical leg portions, said vertical leg portions, said vertical faces and side plates combining to define a hopper for directing concrete into the ditch, a pair of front wheels rotatably mounted adjacent the forward ends of said runners and being located with respect thereto so as to extend below the upper edges of said vertical leg portions, said front wheels being disposed outwardly of said vertical leg portions, at least the rear portions of said runners being provided with laterally outwardly substantially horizontal leg portions for overlying and riding upon the ground adjacent the parallel edges of the ditch, and a pair of rear wheels journaled adjacent the rear of said runners and being located with respect thereto so that rear edges of said horizontal leg portions lie below a plane tangential to the lower portions of all of said wheels so that the rearward extremities of said horizontal leg portions Will'ride upon the ground, said front and rear wheels being of such a diameter so as to project above any portion of the device so that the device may be inverted for transporting said support solely on said Wheels.

4. A portable concrete shaping device comprising a pair of spaced runners having substantially vertical leg portions for straddling and shaping a mass of concrete within a ditch and substantially horizontal laterally outwardly projecting leg portions originating along the upper edges of said vertical leg portions, means rigidly interconnecting said runners including a rear cross member and a front cross member, said rear cross member-oven lying and secured rigidly to said horizontal leg portions adjacent the rearward extremities of said runners and having a substantially horizontally disposed flat plate portion extending between said runners, said rear cross member and said front cross member having opposed vertical faces, side plates extending upwardly from said runners and forming vertical extensions of said vertical leg portions, said vertical leg portions, said vertical faces and said side plates combining to define a hopper for directing concrete into the ditch, a pair of front wheels rotatably mountedadjacent the forward ends of said runners and being located with respect thereto so as to ex tend below the upper edges of said vertical leg portions, said front wheels being disposed outwardly of said vertical leg portions, a pair of rear wheels journaled adjacent the rear of said runners and being located with respect thereto so that rear edges of said horizontal leg portions lie below a plane tangential to the lower portions of all of said wheels so that the rearward extremities of said horizontal leg portions will ride upon the ground with said horizontal plate portion of the rear cross member effecting a troweling action upon the mass of concrete straddled by the device.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent 2,006,316 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,553

723,M3 Cook Mar. 24, 1903 1,084,158 Marsh Jan.13, 1914 5 1,947,754 Bolger Feb. 20, 1914 323,243 1,965,993 Sommer et a]. July 10, 1934 6 Mandt June 25, 1935 Lathrop Jan. 30, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Dec. 18, 1934 

